Attachment for bridles.



No. 697,486. Patented Anr. l5, I902.

.1. A. HULL.

ATTACHMENT FOR BRIDLES;

(Apnlication filed m 1. 1901.!

(No Model.)

3A0) milll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

-JOSEPH A. HULL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE W. HULL, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

ATTACHMENT FOR BRIDLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,486, dated April 15, 1902. Application filed m 1,1901. SGI'ilIINO- 58,346. on model.)

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Bridles or Halters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

My invention has relation to new and usefnl improvements in bridles or halters, and especially to that kind or class wherein a yieldable or extensible connection is placed between the head-strap and the bit in order that the latter may be easily and quickly inserted in the mouth of the animal and expeditiously removed therefrom without disconnecting or unbuckling any of the parts of the bridle; and the object of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated which will be simple and durable in construction, efficient in use,inexpensive of manufacture,and which may be secured to the cheek-strap of the ordinary form of bridle.

To these ends my invention consists in the improved construction to be more fully described in the accompanying specification and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

I have fully and clearly illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings,where- 1n-- Figure l is a view of a horses head with my invention attached thereto, the yielding connections being shown extended to their full length and the bit in position to be inserted in the horses mouth. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the yieldable connection removed from the bridle. Fig. 3 is aperspective showing the manner in which the invention is secured to the cheek-strap of a bridle. Fig. 4. is a plan view showing the sheet-metal blank from which the casing for the yielding connection is formed; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal edge view of the blank shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is aplan and end View of the heads or end plates for the casing. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the yielding connections.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the brow-band, B the nose-band, C the headpiece, and D the cheek-strap, composing a bridle or halter of well-known structure and in connection with which my improved connection is to be employed.

G indicates my improved yielding connection, which consists of a hollow tubular casing a of such size and form as to best adapt it to the uses for which it is designed. In the drawings I have shown this casing as formed from a sheet-metal blank a, the longitudinal edges of which are formed with laterally-projecting tangs b, said tangs being out of alinement or staggered with relation to each other and the function of which will be hereinafter specified. This metal blank a is bent longitudinally to form a shell which is approximately semicircular in cross-section and the edges a of which are turned inwardly to form a flat face, which is adapted to rest against the cheek-strap and be held there by means of the tangs, which are forced through the said strap from the outer side and turned over or clenched upon the inner side. The inner edges of the blank 0. when bent to form the flat face of the casing are not permitted to meet, whereby a longitudinal opening d is formed in the shell, and since the tangs on the opposite sides of the opening are staggored with relation to each other it will be seen that the points of engagement with the cheek-strap will be well distributed or spaced apart and the strain thereupon not be local-' ized.

The blank 0. previous to being bent to form the casing Ct is formed at points adjacent to its ends with transverse grooves c, which when'the casing is formed provide interior channels in which are fitted the plates f, one of whichis provided with an aperture f, said plates serving to close the ends of the casing. The flat edges of these plates correspond to the fiat face of the casing when the latter has been attached to -the cheek-strap, and the said plates will be prevented from dropping out of place,as the flat edges will bear against the strap.

Extending through the aperture in the plate f and projecting within the casing is a connecting-rod E, which is provided at its inner end with a head or collar e and has its outer end formed with an aperture or eye 6. Within the casing a and encircling the rod E is a spiral spring 6, one end of which abuts against the head e and theother against the end plate f of the casing, the function of said spring being to normally hold the rod E housed within the casing a.

Within the eye e in each of the connections is loosely held a ring at, which is capable of being freely moved therein. These rings support the bit g, and it will be seen that a connection is provided between the bit and the rods E which will permit the bit to be swung in any direction necessary to facilitate the adjustment of the bit in the horses month or its removal therefrom.

The operation of the device is as follows: The bridle or halter having been attached to the horses head in the usual manner, the bit may be inserted in the animals month by drawing the rods E to their full length against the tension of the spring e. The bit is then swung on the rings until in position to enter the horses month, when the rods E are released and allowed to be retracted within the casing, whereby the bit will be drawn into position in the horses month. When it is desired to withdraw the bit, the rods E are extended, as above stated, until the bit is disengaged from the mouth, when the retraction of the spring will'draw the bit up under the animals chin and hold it there.

From the above description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be readily seen thatI have provided an elastic or extensible connection which may be readily and securely fastened to any well-known form of bridle and which successfully accomplishes the objects above stated.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination with a bridle, of sheetmetal casings applied to the cheek-straps thereof, said casings comprising longitudinal edges spaced apart and provided with tangs arranged in staggered relation and adapted to penetrate the cheek-straps upon opposite sides of the median line thereof to secure the casing to the cheek-straps, extensible connections contained within the casings and a bit supported by said connections, substantially as described.

2. In an extensible connection for bridlebits, a casing made from a sheet-metal blank having tangs upon its side edges, grooves formed in the ends of the blank, and adapted to receive end plates when the blank is bent, a spring within the casing, a connecting-rod engaged at one end by the spring, and playing in the casing, and the other end formed with a hook by means of which the bit is attached, combined with the side strap D to which the extensible connection is secured, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH A. HULL.

Witnesses:

HUGO OLTSCH, GEORGE OLTSCH. 

